In the animal kingdom, birds represent the most diverse and numerous group. According to rough estimates by ornithologists, there are about 25 birds per inhabitant of the Earth. And each bird has its own name given for some specific reason.
Instructions
Step 1
The naming of birds is conditionally divided by scientists depending on the type of their origin. Some birds got their name for the voice, sounds made, others - depending on color, plumage, structural features of body parts and size. Many names indicate the behavior of birds and their habitat. Etymology helps to establish the history of the origin of the names of birds; there are also many examples of folk interpretation of bird names.
Step 2
The affectionate name "swallow" was given to a small bird living in the warm season next to people (often under the roofs of houses). In the etymological dictionary edited by N. M. Shansky says that "swallow" is a diminutive derivative of the common Slavic word "last", meaning "to fly here and there." Scientists are less inclined to explain the meaning of the name by the noun "weasel" or the outdated adjective "weasel" (black with a white spot on the chest).
Step 3
At first glance, it seems that the sparrow got its name for its nimble, bold and cocky character. "Beat the thief!" - a phrase that represents a figurative, but misinterpretation, born among the people. The scientific explanation of the naming is determined by the onomatopoeic basis of the words "grumble", "coo", as well as the old Slavic word "gorobets" (pockmarked), which has changed over time. There is another interpretation: the name comes from the ancient "thief", which is part of the word "gate". Immediately, a small gray bird, sitting on the gate, appears to be chirping.
Step 4
The Oriole arrives later than other birds and departs earlier. The whistle of this bird resembles the sounds of a flute. At the root of the word "Oriole" is the general meaning of common Slavic related names - "moisture". This bird with bright plumage, hiding in dense foliage, “whistles the rain”.
Step 5
Copepod pelicans living on water bodies have a clumsy large body, they have a beak several times larger than the length of the head, which outwardly resembles an ax. It was this feature that gave rise to the name "pelican", since the word itself in French is interpreted as "ax".
Step 6
Folk legends, wonderful works of art preserve the beauty of a noble bird with the "name" of a swan. In the old days, the young beauty was called the "swan". No one will deny that the swan is one of the most beautiful and majestic birds: a gracefully curved neck, snow-white plumage, and a bright orange beak. The name reflects the external feature of the bird: the white color of the plumage. The word "swan" is a suffixal derivative from the common Slavic stem of the word "quinoa", the Latin word "albus" (white).
Step 7
Gray plumage, crossed by red and black stripes, served to name a small, dove-sized bird hazel grouse. The name is primordially Russian, formed from the word "hazel", which contains the meaning of the adjective "motley".
Step 8
A very beautiful crested brown bird, the jay, because of the brightness of its color, has a name that should be understood as "shining". It is derived from the Slavic word "soy", which has the same stem with the verb "to shine".
Step 9
The origin of the naming "nightingale" is interpreted in different ways. Considering the Proto-Slavic appearance, the basis of this word is "solvъ", which means "yellowish gray". It is widely believed that the bird got its name from its own name (overseas hero Nightingale Budimirovich, Russian epic Nightingale the robber).
Step 10
The appearance of the names of many birds can be easily explained: the meaning of their "names" is directly related to onomatopoeia, actions and habitats characteristic of birds. For example, everyone can guess why the so-called cuckoo, ratchet, sandpiper, pika, wagtail, nutcracker, flycatcher, turtleneck, etc.
